What does it take to leave everything behind and start over in a new country — and then build a real estate investing business from nothing?

In this episode of Pick Up The Phone, Josue Llanas talks with Kateryna Titenko, a Ukrainian immigrant turned Houston real estate agent and investor. Kateryna shares her journey from arriving in the U.S. to building a property investment portfolio in the Texas real estate market.

Topics covered: • Leaving Ukraine and starting over in America • Breaking into Houston real estate as a new immigrant • How she built her first investment portfolio • Overcoming language and cultural barriers • The mindset shift that changed everything • Advice for aspiring real estate investors

Connect with Kateryna: https://www.instagram.com/k_titenko/

🎤 Episode Sponsors:

🏦 Renovo Lending — Houston DSCR loan expert for real estate investors. Single-family and multifamily. In-house appraisals, easy underwriting, no AMC fees. Contact Andrew Faught: (210) 425-2190

📝 Black Label Title — Investor-friendly title company specializing in pass-through funding and pass-through closing costs. Perfect for double closings. Contact Natalie Murillo: (936) 442-8486

🏠 New Western — Houston's largest dispo team. 20-30 agents calling daily. 72 deals closed last year. Contact Caisen Sullivan: (409) 527-1115

💰 GetHardMoney.com — Connect with local hard money lenders nationwide. Free flip calculators and cash-to-close tools: https://gethardmoney.com

🤖 GetsYou.ai — AI voice agents that pick up every call, qualify leads, and book appointments for your business 24/7. Free demo: https://getsyou.ai

From clocking in at a 9–5 to building a real estate empire.

Derek Kelley’s story is about work ethic, confidence, and refusing to stay stuck.

Derek has completed 400+ real estate transactions in just 4 years, currently runs 30 active house flips, and owns 300+ doors — all while starting this journey with a W-2 job.

He didn’t wait for the “perfect time.”

He worked nights, weekends, and holidays.

He did his own handyman work, bought foreclosure deals, and learned the game while still showing up to work every day at the plants in Baytown.

In this episode, Derek breaks down what it really takes to scale while still working a job — and the mindset required to move from employee to empire builder.

🔑 In this episode, Derek breaks down:

• 🏗️ How he scaled flips while working a full-time W-2 job

• 🔨 Doing his own rehab work early to keep deals alive

• 🤝 Building partnerships — and knowing when to simplify

• 🧠 Why being the right partner matters

• 📈 How he evaluates deals and adds value every time

• 🏠 Running construction while managing multiple projects

• 💥 Lessons learned from a $150,000 partnership loss

• 🪞 Why your only real competition is the person in the mirror

• 🔍 How he filters partners and structures JV deals before LLCs

• 🔢 Running numbers confidently and performing as a closer

• 🚀 How purpose changes as you grow — and why belief unlocks the next level

Derek doesn’t sugarcoat the grind.

Real estate is hard. Partnerships get tested. Mistakes cost money.

But if there’s a problem, there’s always a solution.

This episode is for anyone still working a job but knowing deep down they’re meant for more.

Entrepreneurship is about making calls others won’t. That’s where we come in — combining AI, people, and relentless hustle to fill your pipeline with leads and scale your business.

Click on the link below to see how Vancom can help! 🔗 https://vancom.io/calendar-page

Connect with Us: Instagram / josuellanass

Our guest: Contact Derek Call/Text 281-352-2632

Visit his Facebook page Derek Kelley

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more powerful stories of business, real estate, and scaling your business! 🔔

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#From9to5 #RealEstateEmpire #RealEstateInvesting #HouseFlipping #RealEstatePodcast #EntrepreneurMindset #InvestorLife #RentalProperties #ScalingBusiness #JointVentures #RealEstateDeals #ConstructionLife #BusinessOwnership #PickupThePhonePodcast #Vancom

James Toler is the #1 lender in Houston and Galveston County, with over 3,000 loans funded since 2021 and more than 100 flips per year under his belt. He’s the owner of King James Lending and one of the sharpest operators in the Texas real estate game.

In this episode, James breaks down the mindset, strategy, and slow, obsessive improvement that built his empire — from earning just $4,000 in commission on his first flip… to becoming one of Houston’s most trusted lenders.

James shares how early exposure to business shaped him, why confidence is essential in investing, and the real behind-the-scenes truth about contractors, private money, and scaling a team.

This episode is packed with game. 👊🔥

In this episode, James breaks down:

🔥 How he went from making $4,000 commission on his first flip → to 100+ flips a year

💰 The deal that made him $60K and shifted his entire trajectory

🧠 Why “slow improvement” is his secret advantage

🛠️ How he built long-term, reliable contractor relationships

🤝 How he secured his first private investor (and the exact structure he used)

👥 Why culture is everything when scaling a team

💼 How his wife helped streamline operations and scale faster

🏦 How he accidentally became a lender — and funded 70–90 loans with his own capital before scaling

📈 Why sales & marketing are the lifeblood of volume

🏗️ His land holdings, new builds, and long-term investment strategy

📊 What he saw in the 2025 market — and how he adapted to win

🚀 His goals for 2026 and the mindset behind ongoing growth:

“Focus on the actions that produce results — not the results themselves.”

James Toler’s story proves that obsession, consistency, and smart systems can take you further than talent alone.

If you’re an investor, lender, or operator — this episode is mandatory.

Entrepreneurship is about making calls others won’t. That’s where we come in — combining AI, people, and relentless hustle to fill your pipeline with leads and scale your business.

Click on the link below to see how Vancom can help! 🔗 https://vancom.io/calendar-page

Connect with Us: Instagram / josuellanass

Our guest: Contact James Call/Text 832-256-8596

Visit his website https://www.kingjameslending.com/

His personal Instagram jamesrtoler

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more powerful stories of business, real estate, and scaling your business! 🔔

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#JamesToler #KingJamesLending #HoustonRealEstate #RealEstateInvesting #HardMoneyLender #HouseFlipping #EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessLeadership #InvestorLife #TexasRealEstate #SalesAndMarketing #RealEstatePodcast #PickupThePhonePodcast #Vancom #FinancialFreedom #RealEstateDeals #RealEstateEmpire